Tsuen Wan MTR to Tai Wai MTR via Fanling
An excellent option for the Kowloon or Hong Kong Island based cyclist thanks to the MTR access and extensive cross-over opportunities with other rides on this site. Covering the central New Territories, this ride takes in areas that are little-known to non-locals.
The basics
Rating: B2 (but be aware there is a very long and steep ascent to start the ride - 5km of steep uphill)
Distance: 45km approx.
Starts: Tsuen Wan MTR Exit E
Ends: Tai Wai MTR Exit A (but several early exits possible, as the route passes Fanling MTR, Tai Po Market MTR and Sha Tin MTR)
Urban/rural/mixed: 20/60/20%
Surface: Very good throughout, though note the road between Route Twisk and Fanling is quite narrow. Single file cycling (which is the law in HK anyway) is essential.
Difficulty of navigation: Very easy once out of Tsuen Wan, though around Fanling can be a problem due to the cycle paths being quite poorly signed. If in doubt, stick to the roads.
Distance: 45km approx.
Starts: Tsuen Wan MTR Exit E
Ends: Tai Wai MTR Exit A (but several early exits possible, as the route passes Fanling MTR, Tai Po Market MTR and Sha Tin MTR)
Urban/rural/mixed: 20/60/20%
Surface: Very good throughout, though note the road between Route Twisk and Fanling is quite narrow. Single file cycling (which is the law in HK anyway) is essential.
Difficulty of navigation: Very easy once out of Tsuen Wan, though around Fanling can be a problem due to the cycle paths being quite poorly signed. If in doubt, stick to the roads.
Map and elevation
The details
This ride is best done in the early morning and on Sundays (or at the least, weekends) due to the busy narrow road between Leung Uk Tsuen (just beyond the bottom of Route Twisk) and Fanling.
The starting point of Exit E at Tsuen Wan MTR (Note: Tsuen Wan MTR on the red line to Central, NOT the Tsuen Wan West MTR station!) is chosen because it is one of the few exits at ground level to the station. The other exits are largely above ground making it hard to move a large number of people and bikes through.
From the station, follow the road (same side that Exit E is on) and turn left at the end. Follow this road round all the way to the roundabout and take the second exit for Route Twisk. Here begins a 5km climb that is arduous. Though it can be busy at the lower parts, the road gradually widens and becomes quieter, eventually passing through green woodland.
At the top, the road is straight for a short distance of around 300m before steeply dropping over the other side of the hill, with excellent views over the Yuen Long valley. This is a long and steep descent and care should be taken especially in wet weather.
At the bottom of the road, turn left at the roundabout and follow this road all the way to the next roundabout, turning right. Follow this narrow but pleasant road to Fanling. Just after entering the urban area of Fanling, follow the map route shown above to navigate through Fanling. This can be confusing due to the number of unsigned cycle paths. If in doubt, follow signs to the MTR and navigate out again from there.
From Fanling to Tai Po is entirely cycle path, except for a very short section once in Tai Po itself. Tai Po can be hard to navigate - in general, follow the cycle path signs to Tai Po Waterfront Park, then cross the last bridge before the sea. Over this bridge the path is very well signed to Sha Tin and Tai Wai.
On arrival in Tai Wai, the MTR is very obvious.
The starting point of Exit E at Tsuen Wan MTR (Note: Tsuen Wan MTR on the red line to Central, NOT the Tsuen Wan West MTR station!) is chosen because it is one of the few exits at ground level to the station. The other exits are largely above ground making it hard to move a large number of people and bikes through.
From the station, follow the road (same side that Exit E is on) and turn left at the end. Follow this road round all the way to the roundabout and take the second exit for Route Twisk. Here begins a 5km climb that is arduous. Though it can be busy at the lower parts, the road gradually widens and becomes quieter, eventually passing through green woodland.
At the top, the road is straight for a short distance of around 300m before steeply dropping over the other side of the hill, with excellent views over the Yuen Long valley. This is a long and steep descent and care should be taken especially in wet weather.
At the bottom of the road, turn left at the roundabout and follow this road all the way to the next roundabout, turning right. Follow this narrow but pleasant road to Fanling. Just after entering the urban area of Fanling, follow the map route shown above to navigate through Fanling. This can be confusing due to the number of unsigned cycle paths. If in doubt, follow signs to the MTR and navigate out again from there.
From Fanling to Tai Po is entirely cycle path, except for a very short section once in Tai Po itself. Tai Po can be hard to navigate - in general, follow the cycle path signs to Tai Po Waterfront Park, then cross the last bridge before the sea. Over this bridge the path is very well signed to Sha Tin and Tai Wai.
On arrival in Tai Wai, the MTR is very obvious.